A South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) ministerial level meeting on ending violence against children has kicked off. Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal inaugurated the meeting amid a function in Nepali capital Kathmandu Wednesday morning. Delegates led by ministers from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have gathered here for a two-day meeting to discuss and endorse the decision to establish a strong regional center called "The South Asia Initiative to End Violence Against Children (SAEIVAC)" to address violence against children. SAIEVAC is being established with a vision to ensure all children, girls and boys, throughout South Asia their right to an environment free from all forms of violence, abuse, exploitation, neglect and discrimination. Addressing the inaugural function PM Nepal said, "Today I call on the ministers and government representatives from across the region to seriously consider the proposal and recommendations being put before you. Let us not miss the opportunity to have a serious impact for children. Let's take our commitments to the next level and turn them into valuable actions. We can demonstrate to each other and the world how collaboration and partnership can pave the way to sustainable and long-term solutions for ending violence against children." The two-day meeting will form a SAIEVAC Governing Board, which will supervise and oversee SAIEVAC's work. The governing board will comprise of government representatives, child representatives, international agency representatives, and civil society representatives from the SAIEVAC member countries. A permanent SAIEVAC Secretariat will be based in Nepal and hosted by the government of Nepal, Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare.